Advent - Luke Chapter 14

This is part of a series exploring Luke’s Gospel for the Advent season. One chapter a day for the first 24 days of December. (We’ll see how we go!) I hope you enjoy :)

- Jeff

What’s your excuse? Luke 14:12-24 has a few themes in it.

1. There’s a reward on offer when you’re not looking for one immediately. (It’s a long-term investment to be kind).

2. There’s excuses to be made, but you’ll miss out if you make them.

3. There’s loads of room. God hasn't run out of room for you.

Basically, God offers us good things. I don’t know exactly what the reward (or ‘recompense’ in the KJV, Luke 14:14) is or looks like. For Jesus to talk about it though I reckon it must be pretty good.

The three excuses used are:

A. Land - property; long-term investment.

B. Oxen - business, materials; shorter-term investment.

C. Relationships - people.

I wonder, if we were to prioritise and/or categorise our excuses for not getting stuck in with God, where would we rank these three?

• Are we focussing on ~buying a house, and making that our ‘idol’?

• Is an unhealthy focus on work for work’s sake (rather than as an act of worship to the Lord) leading to burnout or sub-optimal prioritisation?

• Do we love other people (or one person, or ourselves) more than God?

Elsewhere in Luke chapter 14, Jesus speaks of counting the cost. Are we ready to give up some of our investments (time, energy, etc.) for God? Do we really believe that He is worth it?

Spoiler: He is. Plus, there’s a reward on offer - whatever that is and whatever it may look like!